wickwire



May 30, 1933- c. c. wxcKwlRE WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Filed oct, 4, 1930 9sheets-sheet 1 m m@ @Q N@ www@ m. am 0M E# -I/* Q4, MIII'IIIIIIIIIN A112 mmmmw 5 am I I om ,I www, M mm @2 w M D UU" mw mw HU wm n. wm HHM fa. l HU @No a E u mm @n IMU" m .u @m mll A@ 1 S @QM ,Ik @NNUU ma 2 \1@Mx www? Nm E @P @9 m@ I @Q f1 .m9 S e 51 ww I N I @s m2 om@ J @i @i E.,E @i M NQ, @s

May 3o, 1933.

C. C. WlCKWlRE WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 2N@ Q mf\ @n m9 E ,x Q o @m a n@ 5 m9, @o om mow j @m E @2 5T 5T\ I W L.1mi. :1- W 1 n v Q2uw Blwemor May 30, 1933. c. c. wlcKwlRE I WIRE FABRICMACHINE f Filed Oct. 4i 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Gttorncgs May 30. 1933 c.c. wlcKwlRE 1,911,541

WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 30, 1933- c.c.' wlcKwlRE `WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 5vnventor (Ww/0@ @920mm (Ittornegs May 30, 1933- c. c. wlcKwlRE WIREFABRIC MACHINE -Filed Oct. 4, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 May 30, 1933. c. c.wlcKwlRE WIRE FABRIC MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. 4, 1930 9Sheets-Sheet 8 rllifIlwlilllIIII! May 30, 1933- c. c. wlcKwlRE WIREFABRIC MACHINE Filed Oct. 4, 1950 May 30, 1933 c. c. wlcKwlRE `1,911,541

i WIRE FABRICl` MACHINE Filed Oct. 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 9v Patented May30, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES o. wIcxWInE, or cOnTLAND,NEW Yoan, AssIGNOa To WIcxWrnn BROTHERS, OFTCORTLAND, NEW YORK, ACORPORATION or NEW Yom:

FABRIC iizAcHINn Application led October 4, 1930. Serial No. 486,467.y

This invention relates to machines for Y than rhombs, but the angle ofcrossing is a.

function of the rates of lineal and cross feed and is subject tovariation. The strands are not interwoven, bu all of one oblique setoverlie the strands of the other set.

Such a fabric may be regarded as in effect made up of a cylindricaltube, whose wall comprises parallel progressive spiral strands,flattened on itself, and this fact is availed of .in the construction ofthe "l machine. The wire is carried on spools or reelsfrom which itisdra'wn intermittently b intermittent feed of the finished fabric. Th'mounted on a rotary carrier which rotates intermittently in time withthe intermittent drawing Off of the'wire. y s

The strands pass directly to individual guides 'which traveltransversely tov the length of 'the fabric intermittentlyv in a closedpath. This path is made upv10f two adjacent parallel straight runsconnected at their ends by semicircular arcs. As 'each guide reaches theend vof a straight run, it is transferred around the arc to thebeginning of the other straight run, the two positions beingsubstantially opposite each other so that'the wires forming the edstrand are laid parallel to the len li of t e fabric and lie straight,thus pr ucing a non-stretchin edge. This edge lis composed of the fa ricwires and forms a selvage without tle use of an additional selvage wire.

The weldin electrodes, feed device, takeup rolls, and abric roll aremounted beyond the guides in the order stated. The welding electrodes ae Operated seriatimv and preferably with slifght overlap in theirperiods of operation, thus limiting the demand for current, promoting.economy in operation,

and eliminating arcing and burning of4 the, wires by maintaining thewelding circuitA closed while making a complete row of'weld's.

vexpose certain of the parts to view; M ese reels are Various objectsand advantages of the invention will appear in theV followingspecification which is to be taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is anenlarged sectional view Of. `a portion of the machine taken'on the line 2 2 vof Fig. 1;

.Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of the mechanism for holding theclutch-operatingbar in its inoperative position; l p

4 is a view, in perspective; of a portion ofv the? right hand sidepf themachine as viewed from the front;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the electric welding-circuit; v

Fig. 6-is a View in perspectiveof that part vof the machine shown inFig. 4, viewed from the rear with the welding roll removed to ig. 7 is aview in elevation of the mechanism vs hown in Fig. 6, looking from therear with the roll in place. A portion of the wire-carrier elements andrelated parts are shown.

Fig 8 is a view, in' perspective, of the mechanism at the opposite endof the roll from that shown in Fig. l, and viewed from the rear;

Fig. 9 is a/plan view of the clutch and its so i operating mechanism,and includes also a portion of the drum carrying the wire supf plyspools and the mechanism for. operating itline 11-11 of is a rearelevation (partly broken Fig 10 is an enlarged fragmentary section -85'away) showing the trackway and the wire- A9o carrier-elements which moveupon ift, part of the mechanism for shifting the carrier elementsintermittently being indicated in dotted lines;

Fig. 13 is a similar view, on a reduced a5 scale, of the trackway andits supporting means, the Wire-carrier-elements being omitted;

Fig. 14 is a view, in perspective, of

an end ofthe trackway and associated mechthe machine, and the end atwhich the wires are introduced as the rear of the machine.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the mechanism is mounted upon arectangular frame consisting of two side members 21, 22 connected at therear end of the machine by cross members 23, 24 and at the front endofthe machine by cross members 25, 26, the

frame being carried upon legs 20. The sidel frames 21, 22 project beyondthe front frame member 26 at 27 and are provided at their extremitieswith bearings in which is mounted a roll upon which the finished fabricis wound.

.At the rear of the machine, and mounted upon the rear frame members 23,24 by means of a shaft 29 journaled in bearings 31, 32 is a rotatabledrum 33. This drum is made up of a supporting disk 34 and a plurality ofparallel spaced blocks 35 between which the wire-supplying spools aremounted'. The blocks 35 are each end to receive the pintles 36. Thesesupport wire spools 37, which are locked in position by thumb latches 38(see Fig. 11). rIhe drum in the machine illustrated carvries sixt -eightwire s ools, thirty-four on number of wire spools carried by the drum.

These teeth are part of a feed mechanism by which the drum is rotatedintermittently. Mounted u on brackets 41 which are fixed to the crossrame member 26, is an endless track 42l (see Figs. 12 and 13) whichsupports the wire iding mechanism. This track may be mo 'fledconsiderably in form, the essential thing Lbein that it define a closedpath about which t e wire-carrier-elements travel. Preferably, itconsists of upper and lower straight arms connected at their ends bysemi-circular sections, and is T-shaped in cross section, as shown.

Mounted on the track is a series of wirelcarrier-elements or blocks 43which, as best shown in Figs. 14 and 15, are V-shaped in cross sectionand provided with four upstanding lugs 44. These lugs straddle the headof the track rail and have inward extensions which engage behind thehead of the rail and retain the block in place. Blocks 43 are formedwith reduced shoulders 45 ooved near and a beveled surface 46 on oneside for cooperatiorrwith ratchet bars later to be described. These formin effect ratchet teeth by which the blocks are fed intermittently. At47 each block is provided with a longitudinally extending guidewaythrough which is threaded one of the wires to be welded. Interposedbetween successive carrier blocks are spacer blocks 48, mounted on thetrack in a manner identical with that of the carrier blocks. Thesealternating carrier blocks and spacer blocks form two series, which moveon the upper and lower runs of the track intermittently in oppositedirections. During each motion step the leading block of each series ismoved around one curved end of the track to position, as the end blockofthe other series is moved around the other end. For example, duringthe next step the carrier block at the right hand end of Fig. 14 will bemoved down to replace the spacer block 48 inthe lower run.

The mechanism for imparting intermittent motion to the two series ofblocks com rises two lon itudinally reciprocable ratchet bars 177 an 178(Figs. 12 and 13) oscillated simultaneously in reverse directions bymeans hereinafter described', and spring urged pawls 182, 183, 184, and185 mounted on the track 42. The pawls directly engage the last twoblocks 43 and 48 of each series to prevent retrograde movement, and thebars are provided with ratchet teeth which in one direction of motionengage and drive the shoulders 45 on the blocks 43 and in the otherdirection ride' over the beveled surfaces 46. The upper bar 177 issupported on shoulders 45, but is free to rise in the guides 179 vand islowered by gravity. The lower bar is free in its guides 180 and is urgedupwardly by springs 181 (see'Fig. 14

. The mechanism for transferring blocks from one series to the other issubstantially duplicated at the twoends of the track 42. It includes ado 49 (Figs. 12 and 14) to engage Jthe. leading block, the dog beingpivoted on an offset crank 50 to swing in an arc substantiallyconcentric with the corresponding curved end of track 42. Crankdescribed'in the preceding paragraph, and

they are so arranged that when the racks 54 move in reverse directions,the cranks 50 move in the same an ular direction. To actuate the rackssimu taneously in reverse directions, there is a rock lever 57 pivotallysupported at its middlevat 58, andv pivoted at 59 to the two rack bars.motion of lever 57 is slight and by the use of free filling guides 55Vand rather free meshing with the pinion it becomes feasibler Thiscarrier appears at 62 and is guided in openings 61 formed through theframe members 60. `At the right hand side of the machine the carrier hastwo upstanding spaced rollers 63 and 64 (Fig. 7) which straddle a cam,later to be described, and with the cam serve as means to shift theelectrode carrier back and forth in timed relation.

The carrier 62 (Fig. 6) has a longitudinal slot 65 which positions thehinge lug ofthe electrode units, and from this slot extend recesses 66which provide clearance for the movements of the respective electrodeunits'. l

On the lower side of the carrier 62 is a longitudinal guide strip 67which directs the finished mesh into engagement with feed fingers laterto be described. v

Electrode carrier 62 supports a series of welding electrode arms 68, allbeing identical in structure. Each arm is hollow and is,` mounted toswing in a vertical plane on a pintle 69 which is received in the lonitudinal groove 65 and held in placel y cleats 71. These weldingelements are each normally held in their upward positions by springs 72.They are each provided with a curved upstanding metallic spring arm 73to which downward force is applied to urge the electrode in awork-engaging (downward) direction.

In order to preventoverheating of the electrodes 68, a horizontallydisposed pipe or tube 169 may be connected with the interior of each ofthe hollow electrodes 68 through the medium of flexible hose 171. Pipe169 is connected by-any suitable means, such as a flexible hose 172(Fig. 1), with a source of water and at its opposite end has a dischargeconnection 173.

Carried b frame members' 60 and disposed direct y beneath and inline'with the l-ends of electrodes 68 is a tubular electrode Mounted inbearings 75 on frame member 60 is a roll 76 carrying contact cams whichactuate the electrodes 68. At the left end of this roll as viewed fromthe front of the ma- The angular chine is a cam ring 77. At theljsameend, roll 76 also carries a slip ring 78 upon which bears a brush 79secured `to the member 60. At itsother end, roll 76 carries a second camring 81.

Running around roll 76 is a progressive spiral and inset into the rollis a bus bar 82 in the form of a conducting strip' of metal, x

such as copper. This carries, in s aced relation to each other, aplurality 'o contactor bosses 83, one for each electrode 68. Thesecontactor bosses also serveas cams to force approach side oftheassociated boss `83 strikes, spring 73 to depress Vthe electrode intocontact with the wire before the welding circuit is completed. Afterthejoint is,

Welded and as the boss 83 leaves the spring 73, the block84 rides overthe splring and holds the electrode down against t e welded joint longenough to allow it to cool, before the electrode pressure is removed.Theroll 76 also carries a cam 85.

Mounted on frame member 26 in bearings 86 is a shaft 87- carrying arms88, 89, 91. APivotally carried by arms 88 and 89 is a feed bar 92provided with a series of feed fingers 93. This bar `is moved so thatthe fingers are brought into and out of the path of travel of the wirefabric, its function being to advance the fabric from the welding bartoward a pair of take-u rolls. As shown, a number of the fin er e ementsat the ends of thek bar are dou le in form, thatis, a

second finger is provided immediately ahead of the other for the purposeof engaging the fabric, if for any reason the first should radiallyextending pin 97. Also fixed to shaft 96 is an arm 98 which is connectedb a link 99 to a vdepending arm 101 on rock liver 57. The arm 101 isbraced at 102, 103 to leverv 57.

At its forward end shaft 96 carries fixed upon it a hub 174 havingoppositely extending crank arms 175. Connected to these arms by links176 are the two ratchet bars 177, 178'already described.

Pivotally mountedfupon a bracket 104 on frame member 22 is an arm 105,one end of which carriesk a roller 106. which is adapted to ride uponthe cam ring 77 carried by` roll 76. The other end is slotted at 107 andreceives the free end of radial pin 97 which is carried by shaftv 96. Atension spring 108 one end of which is attached to arm 105,

the other e'nd of which is fast to the frame member22 (see Fig. 8)exerts a downward pull upon this end of the arm 105 and thereby movesthe roller 106 into engagement with cam ring 77. A forked member 109 issecured to frame member 22 and straddles the slotted end of arm 105 toguide it in its pivotal movement. The cam ring 77 has a low spot whichallows the roller 106 to move upward after the last electrode of theseries has been actuated and freed. The eect is to lower the arm 105 andby rotating shaft 96 return the actuating ratchet bars 177, 178 tooperative position without mclving blocks 43 and 48,'these being held bypawls 182, 183, 184, and 185.

@n the opposite side of the machine and secured to frame member 21, is abracket 111 te which are pivotally secured two rocker arms 112, 113'having tension springs 114 secured near their lower ends. y Thesesprings are also secured to the frame of the machine, as shown in Fig.1, and exert a constant pull upon the rocker arms to hold their upperends in contact with the cam ring 81.

Adjustably secured to the lower end of rocker arm 112 4is a forwardlyextending farm 100 whose end is in engagement with a ratchet wheel `110carried on shaft 115. Shaft 115 is mounted in brackets 116, 116 on thecross frame lmember 26. The end of arm 100 is held in 'engagement withthe ratchet by means of leaf spring 117 mounted on a portion of themachine frame, as shown.

A pawl 118 serves'to prevent reverse rotation of ratchet wheel 110.Shaft 115 carries a take-up roll 119 which may be of rubber or any othersuitable friction material, and through gears 121 and 122 is in drivingengagement with a second and similar takeup roll 123 mounted immediatelyabove the roll 119. Bearing brackets 116 support both rolls. in order toprevent undesirable rotative" movement of rolls 119, 123,'each bearingmember 116 is provided at 124 with a braking mechanism which consists ofa pin 125 which is pressed against the shaft 126 of roll 123. Thepressure exerted by this pin upon shaft 126 may be adjusted by turningthe screw 127. See Fig. 4 of the drawings. y

Adjustably secured to the lower end of rocker arm 113 at 128 is an arm129 which at its other end is pivotally secured to the arm 91, carriedby shaft 87. As will be recalled, the shaft 87 actuates the feed bar 92.

The spindle 131 of the welding roll 76 extends beyond its bearing andhas keyed or otherwise fixed on it a pinion 132. This pinion is indriving engagement with agear 133 twice its size, said gear beingcarried on stub shaft 134 journaled in bearing 75. Disposed on eitherside of the gear 133 are the rollers 63 and 64. Gear 133 is proA videdon both sides with arcuate cams 135, 136, each one of which extendsalittle less than one-half the circumference of the gear, as best seen inFigs. 4 and 7, and the gap between these may be seen in Fig.` 1. Thesecams 135, 136 alternately shift the electrode carrier 62 back and forth,the shift occurring when roll 76 has actuated and freed the lastelectrode of the series. The electrode carrier thus occupies itsalternate extreme positions during successive rotations of the roll 76.

Mounted on frame member 22 are two brackets 137 and 138 which carry attheir outer ends a drive shaft 139. Swiveled at the rear endof shaft 139is afpulley 1'41 which is driven by any suitable source of power. At itsfront end shaft 139 carries a bevel gear 142 which meshes with a secondbevel gear 143 carried on the shaft 131 of the welding roll. A movableclutch element 145 is splined on shaft-139, and has the usual shiftingcollars. Slidably disposed in guide members 146, carried by brackets 147on frame member 22, is a clutch actuating rod 148 connected to clutchelement 145. At its forward end clutch rod 148 is provided with adownwardly extending finger 149 disposed immediately above shaft 131which there carries a collar 151 having a tripping lug 152. The linger149 ofrod 148 is held out of the path of travel of the shoulder 152 byawedge 150 inserted beneath the clutch rod (see Fig. 3). Withdrawal ofthe wedge causes the clutch to be disengaged, as will be apparent'froman i11- spection of Fig. 9, the clutch normally being biased to engagingposition.

Carried at the forward endsof the side frame extensions 27 are two openbearings 153 which receive the spindles 154 of a roll 155 upon which thefinished fabric is wound. The spindle 154 also kcarries a lpulley 156which is driven from the welding roll spindle `131 by a slipping belt157. Y

Reference character 158 Y designates the arm of a belt tighteneof usualform, and the arm is pivotally connected at 161 to an extension -144 onbearing 75, and carrying at its opposite end a loose pulley 162 whichrides on belt 157.

4As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, 163 is an :L- shaped lever pivotally mountedat 164 en bracket 165 carried by frame member 26. A tension spring 166is attached to the forward end of the horizontal leg 160 of this leverand acts to draw this end downward, rocking said lever at its fulcrum164. The spring holds the vertical leg 167 in engagement with the camring on roll 76. The forward end of leg 160 of lever 163 is disposedbeneath and engages with a projecting pin 168 which is secured to feedbar 92. This holds the feed bar in its upward normal position. When arm163 strikes the low point of cam 85, the pin drops while the Wire 195back to the source.

feed bar is moving to take a fresh grip on the mesh. I

As the wires are moved along the track by the wire carrier blocks 43, it1s necessary that the wire spool carrying drum be like wise rotated ashort distance in) order that each carrier block and the wire spool fromwhich it receives its supply of wire may be kept substantially in linewith one another. This is accomplished by an arm 186 pivotally mountedin a .bracket4 187 secured to the side frame member 22'. At one end itcarries a spring-pressed dog 188 which enmovement equal to the distancebetween the teeth carried thereby.

' Fig. 5 illustrates in dia rammatic form the electrical circuit. urrentflowing through switch 191 from a suitable source passes from thissource through wire 192, adjustable resistance 193, and wire 194 to thewelding bar 74; From bar 74 it passes through the joint to be welded,weldin element 68, contact spring4 73, contactor nger 83, bus bar 82,slip ring 78, brush 79, and This' `circuit is completed whenever roll 76brings one of the contacts 83 into engagement with an as,- sociatedspring 73, thereby depressing welding element 68 and completing acircuit through the wires which rest in overlapping relation on bar 74.This circuit is maintained as roll 76 rotates because lContactJ fingers83 overlap sufficiently to prevent the circuit from being opened whenthe circuit .A l

with that described in the preceding parais shifted from one joint toanother.

The operation of the machine is as follows: As shown in the drawings allparts are at rest and in the position they assume at the beginning of acyclic movement of the machine. At the outset, it will be assumed that asection of fabric has been completed, andthe machine then brought torest with the parts in the positions shown in the-drawings. A narrowstrip of the `completed fabric is shown in Fig. 1 for purposes ofillustration. l

Upon movement of the clutch element 145 into engagement with the pullewheel 141 by insertion of wedge 150 un er rod 148, driving connection isestablished between the power source and the shaft 139. This impartsrotative motion in the direction indicated by the arrow, to the/weldingroll 76 f which effects the following results.

At the beginning of the operation of the machine, the roller 106carriedl by the arm 105 is in contact with the low point of 'its camring 77. Upon rotation of the welding roll, roller 106 rides u on camring 77 which i on the horizontal runs of the track 42. `Arm 98 islikewise moved upwardly and, acting through link 99, moves the rocklever 57 about its fulcrum 58 in the direction indicated by arrows inFig. 8 to cause the transfer of a carrier block from each run of thetrack 42 to the other.

The details of the operation will be 'evident from an insepection ofFigs. 12 and 14. Pinion 53 which is engaged by the rack bar 54 carriedby rock lever 57 will be rotated in a counterclopkwise direction. Arnr50 which is fixed lrelative to pinion 53 and carries thai dog 49 willlikewise be rotated. The dog 49 being in Q engagement withwirecarrier-block 43 will move this element around the curved portion ofthe 'track into the lower horizontal run thereof, and past thespring-pressed latch member .182 which prevents any movement'of theelements 43 in a reverse direction. v A second and similar latch member183 is provided which acts in coriijunction with latch 182 and to thepsame en Lever 57 is provided at its other end (the right hand end asseen in Fig. 12) with This movement takes place simultaneously Tlherotation of shaft 96, acting through hub 174 and links 176, moves theratchet bar 177 to the left, as viewed in Figs.l 12 and 13, and ratchetbar 178 is moved to the right. rEhese bars being in engagementwith thewire-carrier-blocks 43, as shown in Figs.

12 and 14, move the entire series of carrier blocks, except the twowhich are moved by the dogs 49, 49, along the track a distance equal' tothe width of 'one of the blocks. It is, of course, to be understood thatthe spacer elements 48 move with the carrier blocks 43 and are in turnengaged by the l dogs 49 and 49' and moved in the .same manner when theyreach the end of a horizontal run. 1 i

The foregoing is merely illustrative of on form of apparatus which hasbeen found satisfactory in bringing about the desired result and thatother. means may be em loyed should be understood, the essential eature'being the provision of a series of wire-carrier-eleinents adapted to bemoved intermittently about a'closed path.

As the wire strands being welded into the fabric all pass over thewelding bar 74, as showny in Fig. 14, and as there is one series ofwires moving in a direction opposite to that of -the other series,obviously these two series of wires will be crossed, their crossingpoints occurring where they pass over the welding bar. VAlternate blocksonly, being wire-carrier-blocks, and as these blocks are only shifted adistance equal to the width of one block, the points at which the wirescross will shift back and forth longitudinally of the welding bar adistance equal to the width of one of the blocks.

In consequence of the shifting of the crossing points of the wires, thecarrier board 62 which carries the welding electrodes 68 must also beshifted simultaneously and in the same lateral direction of the machinein order to obtain registry of the electrodes 68 with the joints of thefabric.

. The apparatus for accomplishing this may be understood by referring toFigs.. 4 and 7. Upon thev beginning of rotation of the weldin roll 76,gear 133 will be rotated by pinlon 132. The arcuate cam 136 will engagethe roller 64 and thereby move the carrier board 62 toward the rig-ht asviewed in Fig. 7 (left as viewed in Fig. 4) a distance equal to thewidth of thecam which is equal to that of a wire-carrier block. Thisbrings the welding electroides 68 over the crossingpoints of the wiresin their shifted Positions. f

The actuation of the wire-carrier blocks a 43 and the shifting of thecarrier board 62 engaged by the cam ring 81, thereby rocking thesemembers about their fulcrums. Arm 100 carried by arm 112 rotates theratchet Wheel 110 and thereby revolves the take-up lrolls 119 and 123between which the fabric passes and which act to prevent the fabric frombecoming warped, maintaining it in a flat condition. Pawl^ 118 preventsthe wheel from backward movement.

i Arm 113 acting through link 129 rocks the arm 91 to rotate shaft 87.This rocks the arms carrying the feed bar 92 away from the welding bar.

i In order that the fingers 93 carried by the bar 92 may be engaged inthe wire fabric, the arm 163 is providedand is actuated by the cam 85 onwelding roll 76. The arm 163 is thereby rocked about its fulcrum 164.{Ihe fingeror pin 168 carried by the feed -bar 92 and extending beyondit rests upon the horizontal portion of arm 163, thus supporting thisedge of the vbar 92. It will therefore, be seen that upon this portionof arm 163 being raised, the edge'l of the bar 92 which carries thefabric engaging fingers 93 will be raised to bring these fingers intoengagement with the fabric as it comes from the welding electrodes. Thisoccurs at the beginning of the rocking movement of the arms 88, 89, and91; consequently the fabric is drawn along by these fingers on the feedbar toward the front of the machine. To further insure that the fabricwill be roperly engaged by the fingers 93, it is de Y ected downwardlyby the strip 67 carried by the board 62, as shown in Fig. 2.

Spool 155 is not normally rotated, the belt 157 merely slipping uponpulley 156. Upon the fabric being fed forwardly, however, slack occursbetween the take-up rolls 119 and 123 and the spool 155, atwhich timethe driving friction between the belt 157 and pulley 156 issufficientyto rotate the spool and take up this slack.

All parts of the machine are now in position for the welding operation.As the welding roll continues to rotate, the inclined blocks 84successively engage the spring arms 73 on welding electrodes 68, therebydepressing these electrodes into. contactwith the fabric wires at theircrossing points on the welding bar 74. g

The spring `arms 73 pass one at a time onto the contactor bosses 83,there being a slight overlap of the time when one is passonto, and thepreceding one is passing o its contactor bossso as to maintain a closedwelding circuit and prevent sparking and possible burning o thewvires atthese points. Upon being released, the welding electrodes are raisedfrom the welding bar and returned to their normal position by thesprings 72.

It may be here stated that the contactor bosses 83 extend far enoughlongitudinally of the roll to be in a position to contact with thewelding electrodes in either of the two positions they may occupy, as aresult of the carrier 62 /being shifted laterally ofthe machine. Inother words, each boss is-of slightly greater length than the distancethrough which the carrier is shifted.

Upon further rotation of the welding roll, the arms 112, 113, and 163,and the 'arm 105, allvengage the low points of their respective cams andare thereby rocked upon their fulcrums and, with the vexce tion of theshifting of the carrier 62 which does not occur until the beginning ofthe next c clic movement, all o the working parts, t e operations ofwhich have jst been traced, aref returned to the positionsv they'occupied at the beginning of these o rations. The rock lever 57 actingthrougiiethe racks and pinions 53, 54, and 53', 54 and karms 51, 51returns the dogs to their respective positions where they engage anotherwire-carrier block or spacer block. Arm 163 is rocked by thepull oftension spriiig 166, thus allowing the rear edge of thel feed bar 92 todrop and disengage the fingers 93 fromv the fabric. Y""At the same Itime,`;and as arms 112, 113 are rocked, arm

being raised as in the manner described.l

A This completes a single cyclic operation of .mechanism, thus stoppingthe machine.

the machine.A

When it is desired to stop the machine, it is vnecessary only towithdraw the member 150 from beneath the clutch bar 148 which lowers thehooked end of this bar into position to be engaged by the shoulder 152on sleeve 151. Upon engagement with. the

hooked end of rod 148, shoulder 152 will pull it forward and disengagethe clutch Operationof the machine results in the production of a stripof fabric, having the form' shown in Fig. 16. This fabric comprises twosets of diagonally related wires 196 and 197 disposed in parallel planesand welded together at feach of their crossing points 198. In -thisfabric no selvage wires are needed because each wire in passing from oneplane to the other is drawn tight and being welded at "all crossingpoints forms a substantially straight inextensible edge.

By reference to Fig. 16, it'will be ,seen that each. wire 196 crossesover at the edge of the fabric and becomes wire 197 in the other planeof the fabric. These `cross connections at the ends, made up of portionsofthe diagonal strands, are each welded at their two extremities 200,andcooperate to form a non-stretching edge.

The foregoing description is to betaken as beingsillustrative of apreferred form of the machine, and one which has been found highlysatisfactory in operation. However, it is to be/understoo that changesmay@ be made as found desirab e, and as fall within the scope of theclaims without `departing from the spirit` and scope of 'myinventionWhat is claimed is:l

1. In a wire fabric welding machine, the.

electrodes into welding relation withsaid fabric wires. y i

2. In a wire fabric machine, the combina-V tion with wire supplyingmeans, of a plu- `rality of Wire carrying elements;`means forl astationary welding bar; a' plurality of` movable electrodes disposedabove said bar; means for shifting said movable electrodes laterally ofthe path of travel of the fabric wires; a rotatable welding roll; andmeans mounted on said roll for moving said movable electrodes intowelding relation with the fabric wires on Jsaid stationary bar.

'4. A wire fabric machine comprising a i stationary welding bar; aplurality of wire carrier elements disposed adjacent said bar; means forsupplying wires to said wire carrier elements and across said bar; aplurality of pivotally movable welding electrodes disposed above saidwelding bar; a welding roll rotatably mounted above said movableelectrodes; and current conducting means carired by said roll forsuccessively moving said movable electrodes into welding relation withthe fabric wires.

5. Ih a wire fabric machine, a welding roll comprising. a rotatablecylinder having a series of .overlapping electric` current conductingcontacts mounted thereon and arranged `in the form of a spiral extendingcompletely around said roll.

6. A wire fabric machine comprising a stationary welding bar; aplurality of pivoted Welding electrodes disposed above said bar; meansfor supplying diagonally disposed Wires between said bar and saidmovable electrodes; Mmeans for successively bringing said movableelectrodes'into welding Jrelation with said wires and said bar; meansfor shifting said movable electrodes laterally of the path of travel ofthe com- .pleted fabric; and means for drawing the fabric away from saidelectrodes upon the completion of each row of welds.

7. A wire fabric machine comprising stationary welding bar; a pluralityof wire carrier elements disposed in operative relation to said bar;means for moving said elements intermittently about a closed path;

means for supplying wire toeach of said wires together, one joint at atime; and

means for moving the completed fabric away from the welding bar as eachrow of welds is completed.

8. A wire fabric machine comprising a stationary welding bar; a seriesof pivoted welding electrodes movably disposed above said bar; arotatable welding'roll mounted above said bar; a series of contactsmounted on said roll in-the form of a spiral, said contacts being inoverlapping relation and adapted to move said electrodes into weldingrelation with said welding bar; means for supplying diagonally disposedwires between said bar and the movable electrodes by an intermittentmotion; means for shifting said movable electrodes laterally of the path`of travel of the wires to maintain registry between the movableelectrodes and the wire joints as the fabric is completed;

and means for intermittently withdrawing the completed fabric from thewelding bar.

9. A wire fabric makin machine comprising a welding bar; a plurality ofwelding electrodes arranged to be moved into and out of contact with thewelding bar; a welding roll having a series of spaced current conductingcontacts mounted on its surface and adapted to force said electrodessuccessively into welding relation with said` welding bar; a sourceof,electric current connected to the welding bar and to the contacts onthe roll; and means for supplying crossed wires between said welding barand said electrodes.

10. A wire fabric machine comprising a welding bar; a series of weldingelectrodes movable toward and away from said bari;

`means for supplying crossed wires to Welding position on said bar;means associated with said electrodes to move them successivemechanismcomprising a stationa to contact successively therewith; and means forintermittently feeding the finished fabric forward.

11. A wire fabric machine comprising a welding bar; a plurality ofwelding electrodes movable toward and away from said bar; means for'supplying diagonally related wires to said welding bar with the jointsresting thereon; a welding roll having a series of electric contacts onits face; means for operating said roll to bring said electrodes againstthe joints and to weld one joint at a time, the welds being comletedsuccessively from one end of the welding bar to the other; means forfeeding the fabric forward after the completion of each row of welds;and means for shifting the movable electrodes laterally of the fabricafter each row of welds is completed.

12. In a wire fabric machine, a welding electrode; a plurality ofmovable electro es pivotally mounted above said stationary electrode; awelding roll having a row of current conducting contacts extendingspirally therearoundtand arranged to bring the movable electrodessuccessively into ,welding relation with the stationary electrode, thecontacts being so related that one movable electrode is always depressedduring the welding operation; a source of current connected te thestationary electrode and to the cotacts; and means for driving thewelding ro 13. In a wire fabric machine, a welding mechanism comprisinga plurality of. welding electrodes; means for supplying current to saidelectrodes; and a rotatable welding roll having a plurality of spirallyVarranged electrode-depressing and electric current conducting contactson its surfaceasaid contacts being in overlapping relation and arrangedto contact with said electrodes in succession so as to maintain thewelding circuit closed during a welding operation.

14. In a wire fabric machine, asupporting frame; a wire drumrotatablymounted in said frame; a plurality of wire carrying spools onsaid drum; welding mechanism includinga rotatable welding roll alsocarried by said frame; means for driving said Welding roll; and meanscontrolled by rotation of said welding roll for intermittently rotatinsaid drum.

15. In a wire abrio machine, a frame; a Wire drum rotatably mounted insaid frame; welding mechanism mounted on said frame in spaced relationto said drum; said mechanism including a welding roll having electriccurrent conducting contacts on its outer surface; a pair of fabrictake-up rolls mounted in front of said welding roll; means for drivingsaid welding and take-up rolls; and means operatively associated withsaid-drivin mechanism for rotating said wire drum 1n timed relation withthe rotation of the welding roll. A

16. A wire fabric machine comprising 'a supporting frame; a rotatablewelding roll mounted on said frame; an electrode carrier movablelaterally of said frame; a stationary weldingcbar under said carrier;means for ysupplying diagonally crossed wires between the welding barand electrodes; means on said weldin roll for successively moving saidelectrodes into welding relation with the wires on said bar; means fordrivin said welding roll; and means controlled y rotation of saidwelding roll for shifting the electrode carrier in one direction or theother during each revolution of the roll.

f 17. A wire fabric machine comprising a frame; welding mechanismincluding a welding roll mounted on said frame; means for supplyingvcrossed Wire strands to said welding mechanism; means for rotating saidwelding roll; a pair of take-up' rolls; a feed bar carrying a pluralityof' feed fingers for engagement with the finished fabric to feed thesame; and means controlled by the rotation of the welding roll foractuating said feed bar and said take-up rolls to withdraw the finishedfabric from the welding i mechanism and to hold it taut.

18. A. wire fabric machine comprising a frame; welding mechanismincluding a welding roll mounted on said frame; means for supplying wirestrands in crossed relation to said Welding mechanism; a feed bar havingfabric engaging fingers thereon; a,

pair of fabric take-up rolls; means for rotating the welding roll; andcam means dricn bysaid welding roll for actuating sait take-up rolls andsaid feed bar to withdraw the finished fabric from the weldingmechanism.

19. A wire fabric machine comprising a` frame; a wire drum rotatablymounted on said frame and carrying wire spools; weld- ,ng mechanismincluding a 'welding roll mounted on said frame; means for receivingwire strands from said spools and supplying them in crossed diagonalrelation to said welding mechanism, said means comprising lan endlesstrack mounted transversely on as they enter the. welding mechanism; -andl means actuated in timed relation with the rotation of said weldingroll for withdrawing welded fabric from the welding mechanism. 21. In awire fabric machine, a wire distributing device comprising an endlesstrack made up of two straight portions and two arcuate portions; aplurality of alternately arranged wire carrierand spacer blocks-movableon said track; means com rising movable rack bars for intermittentlyadvancin said blocks along the straight portions o the track; a pair ofrotatable dogs for transferring said blocks from one straight portion ofthe track to the other; and means for actuating said racks and dogs.l

22. In a wire fabric machine, a wire drum;

welding mechanism; and means for delivering diagonally` related wiresfrom said drum to said weldin mechanism, said means including an `enless track, wire carrier elements movably mounted on and ininterengagingrelatio'n with said track, and means actuated in timedrelation with the operation of the welding mechanismfor moving saidelements intermittently along said track.

23. In a wire fabric machine, a welding mechanism comprising astationary electrode; a plurality of movable electrodes pivotallymounted abovesaid stationary electrode; a rotatable welding rollcarrying current conducting contacts adapted to move the movableelectrodes into operative relation withthe stationary electrode; asource of electric current connected to the stationary electrode and tothe contacts on the welding roll; and means for rotating said roll.

24:. In a wire fabric machine, a welding roll comprising a rotatablecylinder having a series of overlapping electric current conductingcontacts mounted thereon, said contacts being arranged in the form of aspiral on the surface of said' cylinder.

25. A wire fabric machine comprising a stationary welding bar; a seriesof ivoted welding electrodes movably dispose y above said bar; arotatable welding roll mounted above said bar; a series ofcontactsmounted on said roll inthe form of a spiral, said contacts being inoverlapping relation and adapted to move said electrodes into weldingrelation with said welding bar; means for supplying diagonally disposedwires between said bar andthe movable electrodes by an intermittentmotion; and means for shifting said movable electrodes laterally lof thepath of travel of the wires to maintain registry'between the movableelectrodes and the. wire joints as the fabric is completed. In testimonywhereof I have signed my name to this specification.

CHARLES C. WICKWIRE.

